Description
Sausage Pesto Pasta is a quick, easy, and flavorful meal that combines savory Italian sausage with fresh, herbaceous pesto sauce tossed with perfectly cooked pasta. This hearty and colorful dish is perfect for busy weeknights, offering restaurant-quality taste with minimal effort and versatility to suit different dietary preferences.
Ingredients
Protein
- Italian Sausage – 12 oz, sliced into bite-sized pieces
Sauce and Flavorings
- Pesto Sauce – 1/2 cup (fresh or store-bought)
- Garlic – 2 cloves, minced
- Olive Oil – 2 tablespoons
- Fresh Basil – a handful of torn leaves for garnish
- Parmesan Cheese – 1/2 cup freshly grated
Pasta and Vegetables
- Pasta (penne or fusilli recommended) – 12 oz
- Cherry Tomatoes – 1 cup, halved
Instructions
- Prepare Your Ingredients: Slice the sausage into bite-sized pieces and chop the garlic. Rinse and halve the cherry tomatoes. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente.
- Cook the Sausage: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, then add the sausage pieces. Cook until browned and cooked through, allowing the fat to render and flavor the pan.
- Sauté Garlic and Tomatoes: Add the garlic and cherry tomatoes to the pan with the sausage. Cook for a few minutes until the garlic is fragrant and tomatoes begin to soften and release their juices.
- Combine Pasta and Pesto: Drain the pasta, reserving a little pasta water. Stir the pasta into the skillet with the sausage mixture. Add the pesto and toss everything together gently. Use the reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce as needed.
- Finish with Parmesan and Basil: Remove from heat and mix in freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle torn fresh basil leaves on top before serving for a bright, fresh note.
Notes
- Use quality pesto (fresh or store-bought) for best flavor.
- Do not overcook pasta; aim for al dente.
- Toast pine nuts lightly if making homemade pesto for added nuttiness.
- Reserve pasta water to help the sauce cling to the pasta without becoming too thick.
- Brown sausage well for enhanced flavor and texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg
Keywords: Sausage Pesto Pasta, Italian Sausage Pasta, Quick Pasta Recipe, Easy Italian Dinner, Pesto Pasta with Sausage
